Latest News

Latest News

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service has been notified of a new case of measles from recent travel overseas, and requests people watch for symptoms of measles if they have been to the following public places at the same times as the infected person.

MEASLES IMMUNITY

Medical Officer of Health Dr Josephine Herman asks people who visited any of the locations within these time frames to call their doctors’ practice if they are unsure of their immune status. People are considered immune if:

they have already had measles

they have received two doses of the MMR vaccine after their first birthday

if they are born before 1969 (as they are very likely to have had measles as a child)

HOW MEASLES IS SPREAD

Dr Herman says measles is one of the most infectious diseases and is easily spread from person to person through the air via sneezing, coughing or normal breathing. “Just being in the same room as someone with measles can be enough to catch the infection.”

MEASLES SYMPTOMS

Measles usually begins with a high fever, runny nose, cough and sore red eyes, followed by a rash starting behind the ears and spreading to the body a few days later.

Should anyone be infected by this person, they may start to develop symptoms from 17 - 26 May 2017. Those with symptoms should seek medical advice and keep away from public places such as school, work, childcare, malls or public transport.

If someone suspects they have measles, Dr Herman says they should call their doctors’ practice first before arriving. “Please don’t just turn up at the doctor’s as you could infect people in the waiting room.”

One in three people with measles will develop complications, such as ear infections, pneumonia, diarrhoea or rarely inflammation of the brain.

PREVENTING MEASLES

The best way to prevent measles is through immunisation with two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. New Zealand provides free MMR vaccinations to all children at 15 months and four years. Those born after 1969 with only one dose of MMR are entitled to the second vaccination free of charge. Practice nurse fees may apply.